Freedman received the award by the National Academic Advising Association (NACADA) Region V. NACADA is an association of professional advisors, counselors, faculty, administrators, and students working to enhance the educational development of students. The Excellence in Advising – New Advisor award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated qualities associated with outstanding academic advising of students and who have served as an advisor for a period of three or fewer years.

Freedman has been a member of IUPUI staff for slightly more than a year, but she has been advising students in various capacities for five years. When asked what Freedman found as the most rewarding part of advising she replied, “Despite the large size of IUPUI, I enjoy making connections and some long-term relationships with the students I advise.” Freedman is passionate about what she does, and because of that, she is able to build students into professionals.

Before Freedman came to IUPUI, she worked with several other institutions including Ivy Tech, Butler University, and DePauw University. At Ivy Tech Freedman was a career resource assistant, Career Services (April 2010 – June 2010). Freedman served Butler University as a student employment coordinator in Career Services (2012 – 2013), as well as an assistant instructor for a career planning strategies course. And, at DePauw University, Freedman was a career advisor. Aside from this, Freedman has been involved as a tutor, intern, and service assistant at a variety of organizations that have carried her to where she is today.

NACADA’s vision is to recognize that effective academic advising is at the core of student success, aspires to be the premier global association for the development and dissemination of innovative theory, research, and practice of academic advising in higher education. Freedman will be attending NACADA’s Region V conference in April 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

After over 11 years serving the IUPUI community, Nekoma Burcham will say farewell to the Office of Veteran and Military Personnel (OVMP) on December 18, 2015 to fulfill a new mission helping struggling young women find hope and a sustainable new life. Originally from Huntington, IN, Nekoma joined the Office of the Registrar in 2004; first entering official grade rosters “in the days when faculty still had to walk them over to our office.” A unique opportunity to change positions in her first year resulted in her first touchpoint with veteran students filing GI Bill paperwork and assisting with basic services for this student population.

Following a few years working with the Office of the Bursar, Nekoma helped create the first unit dedicated to serving IUPUI’s rapidly growing number of student veterans. The OVMP opened in 2009. She worked for two years as a member of the AAR coding team (2013 – 2015). But missing and loved by the students she formerly served, Nekoma returned to the OVMP this fall before learning she was the recipient of a grant from the Women's Fund for a social entrepreneurship project proposal submitted last year.

Nekoma will spend the next two years of her life as part of the NEXT initiative. Her mission is to provide young women, many with former non-violent records, with a pathway from poverty to personal sustainability through the use of small-scale agriculture as a foundation for education and skill-building. Her project, recently showcased on Indiana Business, will include 2 years of funding to turn this grass roots concept into a functional non-profit organization with additional support from Women's Fund for the program’s first 8 years.

Nekoma, May 2015 graduate of SPEA’s Sustainable Management and Policy BSPA program and ET’s Sustainable Technologies Certificate, is a true IUPUI success story. Congratulations and best wishes in your new mission!

We are so happy you have found your way to our virtual community for JACADA, the professional advising organization for IUPUI and IUPUC! JACADA was and continues to be the dream of those who are passionate about the profession of advising and student success. We are only as good as the ideas created and manifested by our members. Luckily, we have an amazing group of people with incredible vision and ideas. I have served in JACADA since its start, and I can say with authority that in its short 6 year history it has already exceeded many of the dreams we held at the beginning.

. . . with advisors and student services professionals. Our committees provide an opportunity for advisors to get involved and promote a professional community.

. . . with administrators. We have a seat on the Campus Advising Council, Directors of Advising, and the AdRx Technical Committee.

If you are an IUPUI or IUPUC advisor or someone who cares about advising, please join us by creating a profile. We have no membership fees—just an expectation that you get involved and help make us better!

Congratulations to James Eckerty and Carolyn Gentle-Genitty for being named NACADA Award Winners!

James was awarded a NACADA Outstanding Advising Award in the Primary Advising Category for his amazing work with students at IUPUI. In 2014, James was awarded the JACADA Outstanding Advisor Award.

Carolyn was awarded a NACADA Certificate of Merit in the Faculty Advising Category for her outstanding leadership and work with students. In 2014, Carolyn was awarded the JACADA Outstanding Faculty Advisor Award.

It was exciting this year to announce that JACADA was moving away from being a dues paying organization, to allowing free membership thanks to the generous support from the Division of Undergraduate Education. This year, the JACADA leadership considered the priorities for the organization and chose three areas of focus: Advocacy, Communication, and Engagement. As the various committees and programs are planned, these three ideas are at the forefront of all decision making.

We welcome new ideas, new energy, and new people at any JACADA sponsored activity or meeting. We hope to see you soon!